History doesn't honor Lee any more than it does Hannibal, and Hannibal was the greater general.
His service to his country and Virginia will never be forgotten.
He betrayed his country. He brought war and destruction on Virginia for the sake of holding human beings whose skin was black to be slaves in perpetuity. Fortunately he lost the war.
You just choose to remember it wrongly.
"Hannibal was the greater general."
Wasn't Hannibal a Yankee?
"He betrayed his country. He brought war and destruction on Virginia for the sake of holding human beings whose skin was black to be slaves in perpetuity. Fortunately he lost the war."
Lee fought for Virginia. He brought war and destruction upon his foes as well, and usually gave much more with much less than what he got. That's war.
I don't argue the outcome of the war, or the demise of slavery, I don't think any American does. The only thing that merits discussion is the demise of the 10th amendment - striken from the Constitution by force, and causing the subsequent insatiable growth of the Federal Monster and it's increasing usurpation of freedoms for all Americans.
There will likely be another event required just as traumatic as the Civil War if the growth of Federal powers are ever to be stemmed. I don't think it will come to arms again, but it will most certainly involve citizen rebellion of sorts against the federal gov't. If you live that long, will you be there to judge those who believe in the Constitution and a limited federal government?
Your understanding of this history is wanting, your analysis is weak, but your hindsight appears to be 20-20.
Read about Lee, 19th century America and you, too will admire this man. The Civil War would have been much more divisive and reconciliation much more difficult without him and his honorable example. America today would not be the dominant force for good in the world without the Civil War.